2 SpiceJet employees arrested for smuggling gold
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) nabbed 2 SpiceJet officials on the charges of gold smuggling in Mangaluru International Airport. The DRI seized "22 gold biscuits that weigh 2566.050 grams." The flight was on its Mumbai-Mangaluru leg via Dubai. At the time of the interrogation, the 2 employees confessed their crime. They admitted to doing this for lure of money from the smugglers.
Airlines- a favourite of the gold smugglers
In June 2013, the Centre raised customs duty on imports of gold to 10%. Following that, there was a rapid spike in airline gold trafficking. In airports like Ahmedabad, Pune etc, there was almost an 8 fold rise in cases of gold smuggling. Most of the gold was smuggled from the Middle-East nations like Dubai, Abu Dhabi etc.
Gold seized worth over Rs.75 lakhs
The DRI Deputy Director, Vinayak Bhat said that the seized gold was worth almost Rs.75,26,225.
Modus operandi of the gold smuggling
The employees smuggled the gold biscuits by hiding them under the aircraft's seat, hiring a carrier for this job. The employees used to pass on the information of the plane's itinerary to the smugglers. They aided the smugglers by retrieving the gold from the aircraft when it landed at Mangaluru and delivered them by avoiding customs check; thereby misusing their position.
SpiceJet suspends the duo involved in smuggling
SpiceJet initiated the disciplinary action against the two workers Mohammed Anif, senior CSE, airport services and O A Muddaiah, security officer involved in the gold smuggling. Following airline's policy of zero tolerance for any malpractice, the duo was suspended from services with immediate effect. A complete enquiry and investigation will be carried out by the concerned agencies.
